Job Opening: Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Planner for the City of Binghamton
/City of Binghamton
Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Planner
Type:
Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:
$50,270 per Year
Posted Date:
08/22/2025 Open Until Filled
Planning, Housing & Community Development
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is a specialized professional planning position with primary work assignments focused on the areas of historic preservation, neighborhood planning and urban design. In addition to these responsibilities, the incumbent performs general professional planning duties in the office and in the field. General direction and project assignments are received from the Director of Planning, Housing and Community Development. The details of the work are independently planned and carried to completion. Work is performed independently with other planners both as support and lead staff. Supervision may be exercised over consultants, interns, and student assistants. Does related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: Develops and administers the work plan for the City's historic preservation program, including regulatory, planning, educational and training functions; Provides technical assistance and administrative support to the Commission on Architecture and Urban Design (CAUD), including designation and design review as set forth in the CAUD manual and the state and federal standards; Provides technical assistance to owners of historic and architecturally significant properties; Provides technical assistance to the Planning, Housing and Community Development Department and other City offices with required state and federal project reviews, state and local environmental reviews and with the prevention treatment of historic and architecturally significant City facilities; Evaluates structures for historic significance; Creates/maintains a data base of all properties within the city designated within the City historic districts and listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places; Maintains and updates official maps of local historic districts; Prepares annual report of historic preservation activities as required by the New York State Certified Local Government Program and works with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) on ongoing projects; Acts as the City's representative at meetings with federal and state officials on design and implementation of the City's historic preservation programs and projects; Coordinates and conducts neighborhood based participatory planning process and supervises preparation of neighborhood plans; Serves as liaison to City Hall for neighborhood groups with projects and activities such as playground improvements, development of recreational facilities, protection of neighborhood character and neighborhood stabilization; Acts as lead or support staff for City projects pertaining to land use, housing, accessibility, urban design and other areas of planning, including coordination with other departments, boards, committees and agencies; Researches, prepares applications and administers state, federal and regional grants; Serves on Susquehanna Heritage Area commission as assigned; Performs miscellaneous office work and maintains records of work activities.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of federal, state and local historic preservation principles and programs with an understanding of their legal basis and the administration of regulatory controls; good knowledge of the principles, techniques, terminology and practices employed in City and regional planning; good knowledge of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1976 as amended, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act; good knowledge of the principles and practices of neighborhood planning; good knowledge of site plan review and environmental review principles and requirements with an understanding of their legal basis and the administration of regulatory controls; good knowledge of research methods and techniques; good problem-solving skills; ability to communicate ideas and deal effectively with community groups and others; ability to understand complex oral and written directions; ability to deal with tight deadlines and competing requests for the time; ability to successfully work with and serve a diverse local community; initiative and resourcefulness; creativity; tact and good judgment; Ability to operate a personal computer and utilize common office software programs including word processing, spreadsheet, and database at an acceptable rate of accuracy and speed; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either:
A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Master's Degree in Historic Preservation which shall include or be supplemented by coursework in City or Regional Planning or an allied field with similar course curriculum; OR
B. Graduation from regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Master's Degree in City or Regional Planning or an allied field with similar course curriculum, which shall include or be supplemented by coursework related to Historic Preservation; OR
C. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Public Administration or an allied field with similar course curriculum and three (3) years of full-time paid experience (or its part-time and/or volunteer equivalent) in a municipal planning which shall have included extensive work in the field of historic preservation; OR
D. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Historic Preservation and three (3) years of full-time paid experience (or its part-time and/or volunteer equivalent) in municipal planning; OR
E. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree which shall include or be supplemented by coursework in Historic Preservation, and five (5) years of full-time paid experience (or its part-time and/or volunteer equivalent) in municipal planning; OR
F. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree with shall include or be supplemented by coursework in City or Regional Planning, and five (5) years of full-time paid experience (or its part-time and/or volunteer equivalent) in municipal planning which shall have included extensive work in the field of historic preservation; OR
G. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of A through F.
The City of Binghamton is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to workforce diversification. All new hires are required to pass a pre-employment drug test as a condition of employment. Broome County residency is required at time of appointment.
